First of all, thank you for your patience in waiting for this blog post. I returned from my weekend CSLA (Canadian Student Leadership Association) Executive meeting in Calgary last evening and have been playing a bit of "catch up" ever since. I am ending my tenure as President of this organization (at CSLC 2014 in Kelowna, BC in September) and, while I have been privileged to work with so many master educators from across Canada for over a decade, it is definitely time to move over and make room for some new folks to take the lead. We will be sending a healthy delegation from PEI to CSLC 2014, representing TOSH and 8 other Island high schools, and I know that our Three Oaks delegates will return with lots of ideas and initiatives to share.
I have always been a big supporter of student leadership activities, because my involvement in these in high school helped shape the leader I became. Even when students appear to be having "fun", they are learning important skills and/or making important connections that can be applied in many areas of their lives. I have been a student leadership advisor since I walked into TOSH as a teacher in 1999, and I have been blessed to work with so many phenomenal student leaders over the years who took what they learned with us and went on to make a positive difference in the world.
A video link was shared with me this past weekend by a CSLA colleague that underlines the value that comes when students get involved, both in and outside the classroom. We have important curriculum to cover each year, and we do. It's the "alternate curriculum" that often goes unnoticed and, sometimes, unappreciated; that is, until years later when that knowledge or those skills come in handy! The video clip is American, but the facts are universal:
Students achieve more in school when they have a sense of belonging. We've seen LOTS of evidence of that!
A HUGE thank you goes out to all our parents and guardians who contributed items for the Parent Council Bake Sale and worked the table during the Voye Memorial tournament this past weekend. We also appreciate the sponsorship of coffee and "fixings" from Samuel's Coffee House and ADL. The total raised was $153 which will go towards the Parent Council Scholarship offered to a deserving TOSH graduate!
"IN OUR OWN BACKYARD" FUNDRAISING DRAW!
Reg and Toby MacDonald have organized another draw with ticket proceeds going to our school's "n Our Own Backyard" Breakfast and Lunch programs:
1st Prize: $100 of lobster and/or scallops
2nd Prize: $75 of Epicure spices
3rd Prize: $50 gift certificate from Kelly's Flower Shoppe
This is the last week and tickets are now available in the Main Office. The draw date is Friday, May 16...just in time for the Victoria Day weekend celebrations!
Our TOSH artists are rocking the City of Summerside's Lighthouse 2014 Project! The aim of the project is to enhance the residents' and visitors' summer experience of PEI by creating dozens of magnificent 6ft lighthouse sculptures that will be finely crafted by schools and artists from across PEI. These lighthouses will then be placed across the city in a route that will make a wonderful summer attraction. At the end of the summer, the lighthouses will be auctioned off to raise funds for various Island charities, organizations, and causes. The lighthouses will be revealed on a special night on June 14 once they are completed for public viewing around Summerside. Kudos to Ms. Shannon Evans for supporting her students in this initiative. Check out:www.lighthouse2014.com for more information and our recent coverage on CBC Compass!
(Scroll to 9 mins after the commercial)
 |
| Alex and Hannah-Class of 2012 |
GRAD PROM TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEEK!
The Three Oaks Class of 2014 is cordially invited to attend the Grad Prom taking place on Saturday, May 24 from 8-10:30 PM at Credit Union Place. Doors open at 7 PM and close at 9 PM. Tickets are $10 each and are on sale in Room 310 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at noon this week. After that, remaining tickets will be sold at $20 each.
TOSH Grads have the option to come alone or bring along a prom date. TOSH students in good standing are most welcome, along with others who fit the specifications found on Page 24 of the Student Agenda book. TOSH Grads who wish to attend Prom must also have any outstanding school fees paid in full (student fees, textbooks, and library books). If there are any issues surrounding this, please contact Ms. Haire (nmhaire@edu.pe.ca; 888-8460)
Please Note: The 2014 Class Officers, in consultation with graduating students, made a change and chose to offer a "Mingle and Dance" at the prom this year. There will be Candy Bar and munchies offered throughout the evening rather than a sit down meal. Prom tickets (which included the meal) cost $35 each the past three years, and the Class Officers felt that graduating students would have more opportunity to connect with one another if they are not sitting at long tables "banquet style". Be sure to get lots of pictures before coming to the CUP, as families and friends are not allowed into the prom area and picture taking spaces are limited.
All graduates will gather for a full breakfast before their rehearsal at 8 AM on June 24, served by our staff, and the Grad Video will be shown to all at this time.
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS PLEASE BE ADVISED that "Prom Party" tickets are currently being sold to students, apparently. While our Grad Prom is a school sanctioned event, the after party is NOT, as it is highly dangerous and involves underage drinking and drug use--something we obviously do not support. We just want parents to be aware if/when their child asks to attend prom party what risks are involved. The potential for harm is substantial and tickets, in the past, have been sold to students as young as junior high age and to those much older than high school age. We ask that you please give your decision to support this event some sober thought. We worry...every year.
shOUT CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY!
There will be a GSA conference hosted for PEI teens at Three Oaks on Saturday, May 17 from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. Workshops will be provided by the Youth Project of Nova Scotia (www.youthproject.ns.ca). Registration, Lunch, and Fun are free! The focus of this conference is making Island schools safe for everyone. Kudos to our TOSH GSA members, Mrs. Sandra Sheridan, and Ms. Janet Bradshaw for their work in organizing this inaugural Island event!
TOSH SUPPORTS RELAY FOR LIFE!
Our school has been an active supporter of Relay for Life (in support of cancer research) for as long as I can remember! This year's Summerside event is taking place at the Red Shores Raceway (overnight event beginning Friday evening until 6 AM Saturday). Over 30 students have expressed an interest in becoming involved thus far, and
registration forms/$10 registration fee is due to Mrs. Craig by May 21st. Students are encouraged to do their own fundraising, and Charity Jars this month are in support of this cause. Students are voting this week for 6 male teachers who have agreed to be "dressed up" by the highest bidder on May 23! (i.e. Who wouldn't pay to see Mr. Chisholm bedazzled ala Montreal Canadiens gear?!)
Mr. Sparkes, Mr. Oulton, Mr. Trainor, Mr. Chisholm, Mr. Lilly, and Mr. Hockin are "on sale" this week via donation jars sporting their names in front of the Lecture Theatre this week and next! The jar with the most money wins and all proceeds go to Relay for Life! That sounds like a WIN-WIN situation to me!! Sending a shout out to the
Community Works Council for organizing this campaign!
CLIMATE CREW'S HUMAN BOWLING!
Our Climate Crew has been hosting events targeting various areas of the school at noon hour this past month in an effort to bring some "fun" to all corners of the building and to encourage our students to visit one another's "hangouts" and share some laughs together. Last week, there was "Human Bowling" happening in the 600 foyer. :-)
 |
| TOSH R & B Band |
A 'LIL R & B, ANYONE?!
Our newly formed Rhythm and Blues (R & B) Band will be featured at a concert this Friday evening, May 16 at Ecole Sur Mer beginning at 7:00 PM. Admission is $10 and I can tell you...you will ROCK out to the incredible talent that our students bring! If you know most of the words to "Mustang Sally", this is the concert for YOU!
Tickets are available at the door and we know that we will have a great crowd for this top notch performance, so COME EARLY!!
STUDENT LOAN PRESENTATION FOLLOW UP!
Just in case parents of graduating students were unable to make the Student Loan presentations from last week, here are some links that might prove to be helpful. I can tell you from experience (with three kids heading into second, third, and forth year of post-secondary study!) that you might want to check these out!!:
 |
| Kaitlyn representing student voice |
KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!!
To Kaitlyn Taylor for taking the time to meet this week with MLA for District 22, Gerard Greenan, regarding the involvement of Rotary in Island schools!
To Noah Richardson for being selected as a Page in the House of Commons beginning this fall! We are proud to say that this is the third consecutive year that a Three Oaks student has been chosen to the Parliamentary Page Program: Greg MacCormack (2012) and James Brown (2013) are both currently employed as Senate Pages!
To Nathaniel Lykow for being awarded the Sea Cadet Choice Award at the 85 RCSCC Ceremonial Review this past week!
To Brandon Costain for being awarded the PO2 Joey Cole Memorial Award for Sail at the 85 RCSCC Ceremonial Review this past week!
To Brandon Waite for being awarded the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence Award and the Top Sea Cadet on Prince Edward Island Award at the 85 RCSCC Ceremonial Review this past week!
To
the TOSH members of the 85 RCSCC for their excellent representation in their annual Ceremonial Review this past week!
To our
TOSH AAA Men's Rugby team (pictured above) who won the Voye Memorial tournament last weekend!
To our AAA Women's Rugby team for representing our school so well in the Voye tournament! The girls lost to the team who ultimately won the tournament (Avonview).
To the TOSH students who were involved in the Maritime Idol auditions!:
Katie Geary, Taylor Sonier, and Destiny Bradshaw
To Alex DesRoches, Jordan Black, Jordan Smith, Chris Richard, Brayden Toombs, Matthew Arsenault, and Logan MacDougall for winning the Volleyball PEI Midget Provincials last weekend!
To our TOSH Men's Track and Field Team members who represented us so well at the Nike Grand Prix invitational competition in Toronto last week!:
Jack Fingler-400m, 200m
Jordan Gallant-400m, 200m
Jessie MacFarlane-100m, 4 x 100m
Alex MacFadyen-1500m
Nick Meade-400m, 200m
Daniel Meister-1500m
Ryan Merrett-1500m, 800m, 4 x 100m
Matthew Tanton-Long Jump, High Jump, 4 x 100m
Austin Taylor-800m, 400m, Long Jump, and 4 x 100m
Brittan Turner-1500m, 800m
Brolin Turner-800m, Long Jump
Thank you to Mr. Jim Donovan for accompanying our athletes as Assistant Coach!
To the TOSH Students who were involved in the Fandango production of Jesus Christ Superstar!:
David McNeill, Mitch Raynor, Devan Surkan, Morgan Dehmel, Umara Muhammad, Devon McCarron, Charlotte Sullivan, Sarah Tanner, Reilly Doucet, Jolene McIsaac, Scott Richard, Mikaila Murray, Kaite Strongman, TOSH Carpentry students, TOSH Drama 801 class, and Charlie Steele.
Kudos to Mr. Tim Hockin and Mr. Scott Harvey for their acting skills and to Ms. Shirley Anne Cameron for her direction!
To Rachel Barry for representing our school at the National Student Commonwealth Forum in Ottawa last week!
To John Paul Rice for being the best prom date ever!
To the following students who were represented on our most recent "Student of the Week" board!:
Kristen Neal- For great work on scheduling in Phys Ed class!
Lauren Sheidow- For great work on scheduling in Phys Ed class!
Sabrina Gaudet- For her honesty in handing in a lost cell phone!
Jessica K, Campbell- For her honesty in handing in a lost cell phone!
Erica Raynor- For her honesty in handing in a lost cell phone!
Charlotte Arsenault- For her honesty in handing in a lost wallet!
Rebekka Woods- For her honesty in regard to a mishap in the parking lot!
Sherry Anne Hiscock- For doing such an outstanding job in her Coop placement and for her positive attitude!
Jessica Stewart- For helping out other students in the school!
Reyse Hall- For huge improvement in Math class!
Justin Laviolette- For coming by for extra Math help!
Brodie Arsenault- For great practical test marks in Design Technology!
Koby Bridges- Well done on all work thus far in Design Technology!
Jacob Gallant- Very precise work in all drawings in Design Technology!
Will Compton- Great work on survey graphs in Math!
Poala Trainor- Great results on all graph work in Math!
Keisha Poirier- Great teamwork to produce a great report in Math!
Kayla Heisler- Great work on survey project in Math!
Scott Richard- Great work all semester in Math!
Jalene Greenlaw- Good effort all semester in Math!
Isaiah Henderson- Great work all semester in Math!
Jack Gamble- Highly improved work in Design Technology!
James Myers- For improved attendance in Computer class!
Reilly MacKay- Great work ethic in Computer class!
Jake Cormier- For helping a fellow skateboarder put his deck back together!
Matthew Kennedy- Hardworking Carpentry Individual!
Zak Farah- For stepping it up as of late!
Colin MacKay- For being an excellent conversationalist!
Brohan Brennan- For being an excellent conversationalist!
Jillian MacIntyre- For being an excellent conversationalist!
Rachel Barry- For being an excellent conversationalist!
Morgan Dehmel- For her honesty in handing in a lost iPod!
Challenge: This is the final month of classes before Final Exams. Make sure that your son/daughter is caught up and keyed in to finish this school year strong!
Quote of the Week: "Do not plan for ventures before finishing what's at hand."~ Euripides
Have an awesome week and a wonderful long weekend!
Nicole
